NORTON-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Under-17 national football team continued their impressive run at the COSAFA U-17 Youth Championship after defeating regional rivals Zambia 2-1 in a Group H on Sunday at Mwos Stadium in Zimbabwe.
Zambia take an early lead through Albert Kunda, who found the back of the net in the 20th minute with a well placed shot that beat the Malawian goalkeeper.
However, Malawi quickly regrouped and equalized 10 minutes later through James Lumbe, who calmly slotted the ball past the Zambian keeper after a brilliant team move.
Lumbe, who was a constant threat throughout the game, completed his brace on the stroke of halftime, converting a penalty in the 45th minute to give Malawi a 2-1 lead going into the break.
In the second half, both sides created chances but Malawi’s solid defense and excellent goalkeeping ensured they held on to their advantage, securing back to back victories in the tournament.
Malawi had earlier started their campaign with a 3-1 win over Madagascar, showing their intent to go far in this year’s competition.
Meanwhile, South Africa registered a dominant 5-1 victory over Madagascar, setting up a mouthwatering top of the table clash between Malawi and South Africa on Tuesday.
Head coach Enos Chatama praised his young charges for their resilience and fighting spirit, noting that the focus now shifts to the crucial clash against the highly rated South African side.
“This was a tough game against a very strong Zambian team. I am proud of how the boys fought back after going behind. We must now prepare well for South Africa,” said Chatama.
Chatama also reflected on the nature of the match, describing it as a tough battle and crediting his players for their determination to get the job done.
“It was a very intense game, but I am thankful to the boys for putting up a great fight. We started well but lost our rhythm after conceding, only to bounce back strongly before halftime. Zambia plays a lot of long balls but we managed to overcome the defending champions with solid defending and teamwork”,Chatama explained.
“The game against South Africa on Tuesday will be even tougher, especially because they are scoring a lot of goals, so we must prepare thoroughly,” he added.